April 23rd: E.Pira & Figli Chiara Boschis with Beatrice Boschis
At Vinonueva | 5582 NE 4th Ct, Miami, FL, 33137 | 7:00 pm-8:30 pm
Click HERE to get your tickets.
In partnership with Indigenous Selections
Join us at Vinonueva to meet Beatrice Boschis of E.Pira & Figli, the niece of the legendary founder, Chiara Boschis. With five years of hands-on experience in both the vineyard and cellar under Chiara's mentorship, Beatrice has been an integral part of the winery's operations.
Beatrice Boschis | Photo Credits: Chiara Boschis
BACKGROUND
Chiara Boschis is not just a winemaker; she's a revolutionary figure and pioneer in the Barolo region. She is the passionate owner of the E.Pira & Figli winery. Known for her dynamism and innovative spirit, Chiara was born into the legacy of Giacomo Borgogno, one of Barolo's historic estates, established in 1761. Despite societal expectations that her brothers would take over, Chiara, driven by a profound passion for winemaking, chose to forge her own path.
Chiara Boschis | Photo Credits: Indigenous Selections
At her insistence, her family acquired E. Pira winery in 1980, a renowned but heirless estate. Chiara took the helm in 1990 after earning a degree in Economics, quickly earning the nickname 'Barolo Girl' for her departure from traditional methods. "It was a very exciting time when I started. This group of friends and I, the 'Barolo Boys,' as they are called now, were always exchanging suggestions and ideas. We wanted to make Barolo the best we could."
Photo Credits: Wikipedia
She began working with innovative practices like green harvesting, where she cut out grapes to decrease the size of the crop, thereby increasing the quality of the remaining grapes, shorter fermentations, and the use of small French oak casks, aka barriques. "I remember in 1994 Giorgio (Rivetti) and I went around at night to green harvest, so that the neighbors wouldn't see how many bunches we were cutting. When my father saw the result the next day, he said I was throwing away money. He was traditional and didn't understand. But you know, I think, when you want to do something completely different, you have to do it your own way."
Chiara's inaugural 1990 Barolo Riserva Cannubi won critical acclaim, earning the prestigious Tre Bicchieri award and catapulting her onto the international stage. During the challenging 1990s, she became a trailblazer for female winemakers in the Langhe.
Photo Credits: Indigenous Selections
Today, Chiara's winemaking philosophy focuses on creating wines that showcase Barolo's powerful yet approachable character, marked by intense aromatics and elegance. Emphasizing organic practices, her approach involves meticulous vineyard management and combining the best traditional and modern techniques to produce wines that express the true essence of their terroir.
Chiara Boschis | Photo Credits: Chiara Boschis
In 2008, her brother Giorgio joined her at E. Pira, with his wife Daniella and their three daughters (Beatrice, Elena and Vittoria), marking a new chapter as a family affair. Their collaboration has allowed Chiara to expand her vineyards and refine her winemaking process, which includes a shift towards using less new oak and embracing large casks for a more balanced oak influence.
In 2010, Chiara Boschis officially began the process of converting to certified organic practices, with her 2014 vintage being the first officially certified. Her commitment to sustainable practices is reflected in the winemaking process, where wines are fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged in a blend of new and old oak without fining or filtering to preserve the pure expression of the terroir. She has also worked tirelessly to convince the rest of the growers to become organic as well. Successfully persuading 80% of the 26 growers in Cannubi to adopt organic methods.
Photo Credits: Wine Spectator
E. Pira & Figli wines are made exclusively from its 11 hectares of proprietary vineyards in Barolo (Cannubi, Liste, and Terlo), Monforte d'Alba (Mosconi, Ravera, and Le Coste), and Serralunga d'Alba (Gabutti and Baudana); the Cannubi property, one of the very best locations in Barolo.
Photo Credits: Indigenous Selections
Check out the lineup for this tasting:
- Dolcetto d’Alba 2022
- Barbera d’Alba 2021
- Langhe Nebbiolo 2021
- Barolo Cannubi 2019
- Barolo Mosconi 2018
- Barolo Via Nuova 2019